Hallyu star Kwon Sang-woo entered the coffee game on Saturday when he held a grand opening event for his new coffee shop "Tea-us" in Myeong-dong in central Seoul.
Standing behind the counter in front of photographers and entertainment journalists, Kwon whipped up brews for fans and media with the un-ironic "Konglish" slogan "Taste Coffee, Tea, and Him" proudly emblazoned behind the walls of his new joint.
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"I didn`t want to just lend my name to this shop, so my friends and I have been planning the opening of this coffee house since two, three years ago," the 33-year-old actor said.
"I`m more nervous now than I was during my debut years and I hope this coffee shop becomes a place where both my Korean and Japanese fans can come to enjoy each other`s company in a comfortable, cozy environment."
The name "Tea-us" is a homonym of "Mr. Tears," the nickname fans around Asia gave him after his role in the 2003 SBS television series "Stairway to Heaven."
The tear-jerker won over the hearts of countless Japanese housewives, who had been looking for the next "Yonsama" to pine for. So it was appropriate that the actor chose Myeong-dong, Seoul`s unofficial "Japan Town," to open his new business venture and capitalize on the massive tourist traffic.
Kwon has been the subject of controversy in recent months by having a son out of wedlock with actress Son Tae-young.
Pre-marriage pregnancy is still a taboo in Korea and their private life has come under scrutiny from the Korean media.
Piling on more controversy to his career were his comments of his desire to emigrate to another country as he "has had enough with life in Korea," in response to the media gossip about his life.
By Song Woong-ki